Now Showing: A Stunning Home Cinema Experience With The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 4K Laser Projector

Quick, the movie's about to start. You grab your popcorn and head for your seat. Thankfully the row in front is empty, which gives you a beautifully unobstructed view of the silver screen. The seats are comfy, there's food and drink at no extra charge, and you can even take your dog with you if you like. It's your dream cinema – and you didn't even have to buy a ticket. We are of course talking about kitting your living room out with one of the best projectors we've had the opportunity to test: the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2.

Valerion launched its VisionMaster range in 2024 on the back of a Kickstarter campaign. It raised over 10 million dollars from backers, making it the most highly-funded projector in crowdfunding history. Aiming to create a bright and capable 4K laser projector in the sub £3000 price bracket is one thing, delivering it is another. But Valerion appear to have done just that. There are now five models in the VisionMaster range. The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 4K laser projector is second highest in the line-up, bagging more than its fair share of fulsome reviews. So, shiny retro-industrial looks and glowing acclaim aside, what makes it worth considering for your home cinema?

Well, on paper at least, this is something of a shining star. As a 4K projector with triple lasers capable of projecting a 40-300-inch image, it's already up there with the best of them – packing a professional-grade lens system, 3000 ISO lumens of peak brightness and a healthy 4000:1 native contrast ratio. Extended colours come courtesy of HDR, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and it's ISF-certified for colour accuracy. The integrated Google TV operating system makes it an adept streamer too. But, throw in dynamic tone mapping, IMAX support and innovations like Enhanced Black Level for a staggering 15000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and we're seriously intrigued. Could the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 really rival prosumer home cinema projectors that cost closer to the £10,000 mark? We turned a living room into our very own Empire Cinema to find out.

First Impressions Of The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 Projector

We wouldn't normally start with an unboxing, but the solid foam crate this projector comes in isn't just for shipping. The lid is hinged, the handle is cushioned and there are latches to keep it securely closed. Valerion clearly expect you to use it for more than storage. If you want to project the giant sandworms of Dune Part Two onto an equally massive 300-inch outdoor screen, or simply take it to a friend's house or another room, this is the way to do it. Carrying this seven-kilogram beast around without a case, especially with its precision lasers and lens assembly inside, would be more than a little toe-curling. Yes, more portable projectors exist, like the lightweight Nebula Capsule Air we reviewed, but those specs are far less impressive.

Lifting the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 out of the case, we were stunned by its design. This is not your typical home projector. The front and back panels are finished in a metallic-grey glass – bookending for a row of shiny wraparound steel fins. Its looks evoke a giant heatsink taken from the set of a B-movie from the 50s. The build quality is instantly apparent. Judged on this alone, we might just be in for a cinematic treat.

Design And Build: Glass And Metal

The VisionMaster Pro 2 is a work of art. We do like to see a relative newcomer rock the boat a bit when it comes to challenging design norms – but that can quickly backfire. Here though, Valerion has avoided the usual 'box file' form factor and gone for a slightly industrial cuboid, with an offset lens and those eye-catching metal fins. Not only do those steel lines make it extremely robust, they're an architectural design choice that partly conceal recessed air vents and audio output on either side. All in all, it's a refined and uncomplicated-looking device – but still with enough design presence to make it a real talking point.

Valerion Tripod: A Solid Option

The suitably high-end walnut tripod stand is sold separately (or provided with the Pro 2 as part of an Accessory Bundle) and is something of a luxury. The Pro 2 has a standard threaded mount hole on the underside, and the tripod's removable shoe has a simple twist-to-lock mechanism. Tripod mounted, the Pro 2 has the rather apt feel of a vintage lamp from a Hollywood studio set.

For all of its craftsmanship, having a projector mounted on a tripod doesn't feel as safe as having it on a table or ceiling mount out of harm's way – especially when trailing power or HDMI cables across the floor. For those who do prefer to place the projector on a table, there's a fold-out kickstand at the front. If you have the space, we advocate buying the optional ceiling mount and fitting a tidy cable run for the best looking and most practical setup.

Controls

We really appreciate the lack of clutter when it comes to onboard controls. Other than a rear-facing power button and a top-mounted toggle for the integrated microphone, there are no controls on the projector itself.

The Remote: A Premium Controller

This is anything but an afterthought. Even some of the high-ticket AV tech we've tested, like the Denon Home 550 soundbar, come with minimalist remotes and no backlight. Thankfully, Valerion has put just as much attention into the remote as the projector itself, with a really weighty high-end build. We find the layout and contrasting colour scheme easy to see too, with little chance of hitting the wrong button. Backlighting is present for all of the main functions, so we were looking forward to using this in a suitably darkened room without switching the projector off by mistake.

Smart Controls

As a smart projector running Google TV, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has Google Assistant built in – so it'll integrate with your smart home for voice control. The onboard microphone (and another one built into the remote itself) can be used for searches and commands like volume and power. It's good to see that the projector also supports Alexa via registration with the app.

Inputs

A sturdy flap on the back reveals a neat row of ports, including the power input. There's more than enough here for a range of playback devices, with one HDMI 2.0 port, and two HDMI 2.1 ports –  one with the all-important eARC (Extended Audio Return Channel) for piping advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos out to a soundbar or AV system.

There are also a couple of USB ports for media playback, one being version 3.2 for higher speeds and more bandwidth – ideal for UHD content. It's good to see some provision for alternative audio connections, with both optical and 3.5mm headphone outputs – the latter being a practical alternative to Bluetooth headphones for late-night or private listening. Talking of Bluetooth, version 5.2 is onboard, as is Wi-Fi 6E and ethernet. All in all, this Valerion has a lot going for it in terms of modern home cinema connectivity.

Setting Up The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 Projector

Firstly, let's talk screens. We're using a VonHaus 100-inch projector screen for our test which is a great option for those on a budget, but we really recommend a fixed frame projector screen for the best wrinkle-free surface – especially for ultra short throw projectors. That said, our test screen is flat, with minimal edge-curling, and has been well installed and maintained. It would prove more than adequate for the Pro 2.

Thanks to the optical zoom and lens arrangement at play here (a rarity among smart projectors), the VisionMaster Pro 2 can project images from 40-inches to a staggering 300-inches, corner to corner. For our modest 100-inch display we were able to stand the projector around 2.2 metres away from the screen, but we could have positioned it anywhere between two and almost four metres away. So, this projector's broad throw ratio makes for flexible placement options in rooms of all sizes.

Grand Deft Auto: Screen, Keystone And Focus Settings

Whatever projector you buy, we strongly recommend a screen that matches the native aspect ratio of the projector. Like many others, the Pro 2 is a 16:9 ratio projector. So, having a white 16:9 screen with a crisp black border (as opposed to a large all-white screen or one with a 4:3 ratio) is going to prove invaluable.

Automatic Screen Detection

We aimed the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 at our screen and turned it on, making sure that the image overlapped the edges.

Some users have reported that the automatic screen detection isn't reliable, but Valerion state that the image should exceed the bottom edge of the screen by at least five centimetres for it to work. By doing that, we had a close to 100 per cent success rate, with the Pro 2 using its sensors and motorised lens to instantly snap the image to our 16:9 screen. Seriously impressive stuff. Only the tiniest manual keystone corrections were needed, so this automatic detection feature does do the majority of the heavy lifting for you.

Following that little bit of magic, the autofocus kicked in. We found we had no need for any manual adjustments.

Connections: Getting ready for playback

We connected it to our Atmos soundbar and sub for testing, using the bar as a connection hub for an Xbox Series X and a Panasonic Blu-ray player. Those new to projector setups should prepare to buy an extra long HDMI 2.1 cable if they want to avoid relying on the Pro 2s internal speakers for audio. You'll need to plan for a tidy cable run depending on how far away you place the projector from any audio equipment. We went for the five-meter Southlight HDMI 2.1 Cable, but you can buy various lengths depending on what you need.

Google TV, Apps And Menus

The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 runs on the Google TV platform, but the implementation here is particularly snappy thanks to the fast Mediatek processor. It's a chip that's been designed to handle the demands of 4K with various AI enhancements too, so we were reassured that the user experience should be smooth and responsive.

Streaming Apps

Adding our go-to apps was a breeze. Some of our favourites were offered during setup, but a simple Add Apps option on the home screen took us to the familiar Google Apps screen. There, we were able to add Disney+, Paramount+, Plex, and even a NASA app for video streamed live from space. The selection is excellent, including UK catchup apps like Channel 4 and ITVX.

We did have an issue with BBC iPlayer, however. The Google-supplied version of this app requires a device that runs on Freeview Play. As the Pro 2 does not, when we tried to run iPlayer we hit an error message. However, as this projector is really all about premium 4K movies than channel hopping, we'll let that one slide – especially since software and firmware fixes for this sort of issue tend to come around eventually. In the meantime, fans of BBC content can find simple workarounds by connecting other devices to the Pro 2.

Menus And Settings

We love the way that the Google TV UI dovetails with the menus of the projector itself. You can access many useful functions from the Google TV Settings option, as well as by using the remote to pop-up the projector's own interface. As expected from the onboard processor, navigating these menus is fast and lag-free. We quickly found the main projector settings and sub menus – all of which are fairly intuitive to get around. We will cover picture settings and the exciting enhancements we tweaked later.

With everything lined up and shining brightly, we ushered ourselves into our seats for the first showing of the evening.

Testing the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 4K Projector

A note on Motion Enhancement: We're happy to see that this feature is available on the VisionMaster Pro 2 for those who need it. But, despite its ubiquity in TVs and even some budget projectors, we prefer to watch our films the way the director intended – at the original, unadulterated frame rate. While motion smoothing might work well for content such as daytime TV, it can turn the naturalism of a 24 frames-per-second film into a sickly-smooth soap opera shot on video. We only turned this on to see how it would handle old home video footage shot at odd frame rates, and it made that more watchable. But for now, it stays firmly in the off position.

Performance Test: Movies

Flash Gordon (1980) – 4K, Dolby Vision, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (Blu-ray)

Few actors have a bigger screen presence than Brian Blessed as Vultan in Mike Hodges' cult classic Flash Gordon. Having seen this on the silver screen in the local Odeon back in the day, we can vouch that "Gordon's alive!?" is as big a moment on the VisionMaster Pro 2 as it ever was. Having been given the Dolby Vision treatment for this 4K release, the projector's exemplary HDR and Enhanced Black Level capabilities really make this film a feast for the eyes. As a movie with a more vivid colour palette than most, the dynamic range of the Pro 2 is stunning. Zarkhov's rocket landing on Mongo, only to be met by Ming's henchmen in their red and gold garb, filled our 100-inch screen with crisp detail, lots of specular highlights and rich colour. Later, the gloom of Arboria's swamp gave the projector a chance to show off its HDR contrast and shadow detail.

Oppenheimer (2023) – 4K, HDR10, DTS-HD MA 5.1 (Blu-ray)

When Christopher Nolan has a vision for a movie, you know it's going to be visually and technically impressive. The colour grading of Oppenheimer isn't overt, but it absolutely evokes the era and enhances the setting of the story. So, when we reached scenes set in Los Alamos, we could gauge how versatile the VisionMaster was – during brighter moments outdoors and in more nuanced environments inside the test facility. With the exception of having to tweak the gamma level to bring some errant highlights under control, the VisionMaster absolutely delivered a cinema-worthy experience.

Spider-man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023) – 4K, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos (Blu-ray)

As a fitting test for how the Pro 2 handles fast motion, colourful CGI and crisp 4K, we called on our friendly neighbourhood Spider-man. As we mentioned earlier, the last thing a movie needs is an altered frame rate, or worse – motion smoothing. So, with our projector capable of showing this multiverse just as intended using glorious Dolby Vision, we were blown away by the extended colour range. Unlike Full-HD resolution projectors, we felt no need to reach for the sharpness control or denoising filters to bring this up to scratch. We did find that picture modes other than Standard affected the vibrancy and tone, with Filmmaker mode adding too much warmth for our eyes, so we used our own tweaked version of Standard mode for this one. As a movie mastered in 4K that has no film grain or other such artefacts to worry about, this was a rollercoaster ride of detail, colour and action on the Pro 2.

The Shining (1980) – 4K, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, DTS-HD MA 5.1

Much like Flash Gordon, Kubrick's psychological horror heralds from the age of non-digital cinema projection – so we would be experiencing a film that's made its way from 35mm to 4K, with both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The ratio is the same as the original US release (1.85 : 1) so we were looking forward to seeing those long brooding shots of the carpeted corridors of the Overlook Hotel on the big screen.

As we'd come to expect from this projector, the dynamic range and clarity of the image was superb. Set to Filmmaker mode, the slightly warmer tint that didn't suit Spidey earlier was completely fitting for this movie. The movie's key visual motif – the colour red – really popped when it needed to, and Jack's frozen visage was just as ice-white as we remember.

Performance Test: TV Shows

The remastered version of The X-Files on Blu-ray was our test for the Pro 2's AI upscaling capabilities. It's already amazing to see this show presented in 1080p widescreen, having been scanned from the original film footage rather than the cropped original 4:3 broadcast ratio. But we're glad to say that the added upscaling really made for a 4K-worthy experience. At times it was close to looking as though it was originally mastered that way.

To give the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 a more challenging workout, we tested the Full HD Blu-ray of anarchic 80s BBC comedy The Young Ones. Despite being technically upscaled from standard definition to 1080p, the original studio material was shot on video, so it was intriguing to see whether Valerion's AI Super AI Upscaling and HDR Enhancer (which simulates HDR) could bring a bit more detail to bear. Toggling upscaling on and off revealed very little change in fidelity, which isn't a great surprise given the source footage. It was, though, a little crisper around the edges. It was good to play with settings we'd normally leave untouched for modern movies, like AI noise reduction.

Performance Test: Gaming

Low latency mode is something of a highlight with this projector – not because other projectors don't have it, but because its latency is around 5-15 milliseconds depending on resolution and frame rate settings, and around the 10 millisecond mark for 4K. Although this won't compete with some very high-end TVs or gaming monitors, for a projector we found games exhilarating and highly playable, even with fast moving shooters like Doom Eternal. While pro gamers may prefer latencies lower than 4-5 millisecond for online multiplayer matches, the Valerion's 10 is well within the high-end bracket for 4K gaming. But, for those who don't mind playing at 1080P 240Hz (yes, you read that refresh rate right) that comes with a staggeringly good 4 millisecond input lag.

Our only minor gripe here is that it doesn't support VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) - but given the High Refresh Rate mode, support for ultrawide formats, dynamic tone mapping and excellent shadow detail and more, it's hard to nitpick what is a truly jaw-dropping gaming experience.

Game mode engaged

And then there's the Game picture mode. It instantly gives you punchier colours and increased contrast, but handily disables motion smoothing and other image processing features that might introduce latency.

Tested on our Xbox Series X (with the console plugged directly into the Pro 2) we were able to enjoy up to 4K 120Hz gaming with some remarkable audio from the projector's internal speakers. It also features a pop-up Game Bar, providing quick access to various gaming-related settings, such as enabling Dark Detail, Instant Game Response, and High Refresh Rate Mode.

Are We In A Quiet Place?

We had the VisionMaster Pro 2 on its tripod in front of a sofa, which placed it at head height while seated. At only 2-feet away, fan noise was barely noticeable. The fan speed varies occasionally depending on how hard the projector is working, but it never threatened to break immersion, even during silent scenes. Valerion rate the Pro 2's noise level at 28 dB – quieter than a whisper, which we can believe.

The Overall Picture: Bright, Vivid, Accurate

If you haven't guessed it already, we couldn't be happier with the picture quality of the VisionMaster Pro 2. It's just about bright enough to watch on a sunny day with the curtains closed, but of course its dynamic range is only apparent in a properly darkened room. A lot of this is down to the underlying tech.

As a DLP (Digital Light Projection) device with a powerful triple laser behind it, it's perfectly placed to make the most of Dolby Vision and other HDR formats. Let's not forget that it's also certified by the ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) for colour accuracy, delivering 110% of the REC.2020 color space – that's technically more than the eye can see. We love the overall experience of watching movies with the VisionMaster Pro 2, with no noticeable rainbow effect – a form of colour ghosting that often plagues lesser models. Those who may have dabbled with a cheaper mini projector might believe that projectors can only deliver underwhelming colour and poor contrast. If they see this one they might even consider ditching their TV for a Pro 2.

Picture Adjustments And Modes

There is a plethora of options to dive into with the VisionMaster Pro 2, including the standard colour, tone and contrast settings (plus Clarity, Luminance and bespoke calibration options). Here are some of our favourites based on the positive impact they had on picture quality and performance.

Among the seven picture modes on offer (each input can have its own to cater for different playback sources) we found that Standard, Game and Filmmaker were the most useful.

While we tweaked Standard to suit a broad range of content with a neutral tone and slightly pumped contrast and saturation, that still wasn't enough for the Xbox. Thankfully Game mode did exactly what we wanted it to, adding vibrancy where needed (alongside ALLM - Auto Low Latency Mode) and turning off any latency-inducing features.

Filmmaker Mode

This is probably one of the most crucial modes to consider for your movies. As another mode that turns off the dreaded motion smoothing and unwanted enhancements, it preserves the movie's frame rate – including 24 and 48 frames-per-second as opposed to the standard 60. It's invaluable for that authentic cinema experience, especially with films that don't warrant any picture enhancements that might alter the original colour grading or HDR performance. As mentioned during in our testing though, we found it didn't suit everything in terms of tone.

Dynamic Tone Mapping

This could also be described as a killer feature of the VisionMaster Pro 2. Normally found on high-end TVs, Dynamic Tone Mapping works by analysing HDR content and optimising the image in real time. It'll dynamically alter the image to retain as much brightness at the same time as pulling more detail out of shadows and balancing out the tone. The result is enhanced realism, contrast and tonal detail, as you can see in this split-screen image from Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

AI Image Enhancements

There's a raft of AI-powered options to improve picture quality, including AI Scene, Dark Detail and AI Super Resolution that we tried with The X-Files and The Young Ones. Although AI Scene has a clear and positive effect, optimising the picture on the fly, we were a little reluctant to have this on by default considering we'd be adding other adjustments on top.

Dark Detail And Enhanced Black Level

We can't over-emphasise the importance of these two features on the Pro 2. In brief, Dark Detail will intelligently pull out details in the shadows without destroying those areas that need to be kept in the dark. And then there's another exciting technical achievement – Enhanced Black Level. The projector works this minor miracle by dimming the laser (which must be set to 100 per cent) while adjusting the gamma to compensate. The net result is black levels that appear darker with correct peak brightness levels elsewhere. That all adds up to a dynamic contrast ratio of 15000:1. It can be more or less apparent depending on the content you're watching, but when it does make a difference it's excellent.

But let's not forget that any projector's black level is only as deep as the ambient light in the room (or spill from the projected image itself) will allow. Those looking for truly inky blacks are better off going for a more traditional option like the LG C5 OLED TV we reviewed. That said, as projectors go, the Pro 2 is a class-leader when it comes to contrast.

Audio Quality: Built-in Speakers

We think it's great that Valerion has given us a pair of internal stereo speakers, but they can only achieve so much. That said, what they do achieve is pretty impressive. They deliver a surprisingly spacious and well-rounded sound with excellent range and respectable volume levels. So, using the onboard audio is anything but a showstopper in the event you don't have a soundbar handy. That said, we're still glad to see that the Pro 2 will pass Dolby Atmos and other advanced surround formats to a soundbar and sub.

Who should buy the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2?

If you've ever found yourself sitting in your local cinema thinking 'if only I could take this screen and projector home with me', Valerion has made that a possibility – and at a price that seriously undercuts most others of a similar spec.

Movie purists will love the range of HDR support and related picture settings, with Filmmaker Mode and support for 24 frames-per-second taking top billing. The Pro 2 is also for anyone looking for one of the largest 4K projection sizes available, with an extremely bright picture and that Enhanced Black Level technology for some of the best contrast ratios we've seen on a projector. There's even 3D support, so it's also perfect for those who like to don a pair of glasses on movie night. If you've always wanted a projector this powerful but didn't want to spend upward of £10,000 on it, this one is for you.

Final Verdict

Let's address what we're all thinking: spending just under £2,600 on a projector is hardly going to be a casual purchase. After all, you can pick up a 100-inch OLED TV for less. However, despite our test screen also being 100 inches, the key feature here is the colossal 300-inch maximum projection size. If you have an entire wall to give over for home cinema use, you'll have your very own branch of your cinema of choice at home. Very few projectors (and no TV) can beat what the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 can offer for the price. It was only day two of our two-week test and we'd fallen in love with movies all over again. Gaming immersion was immense. The downside? Being spoiled for size. Our regular TV now looks the size of a postage stamp in comparison.

As Hallorann says in the kitchen of the Overlook Hotel: "Some shine and some don't". This projector definitely does, and brightly too.

Other 4K Laser Projectors To Consider

Given the spec and performance on offer, we don't think there's a lot of choice when it comes to 4K laser projectors in this price range. But there are a couple of options that come close in different areas. Our first pick is the Nebula X1 Triple Laser 4K Projector. It's also packing a triple laser, 4K resolution and a whopping 3500 ANSI lumens of brightness. It is though lacking the HDR10+, Dynamic Tone Mapping, contrast ratio and IMAX support of the Pro 2.

Our second choice is the XGIMI HORIZON Ultra. It's over £1000 cheaper, making it a more budget-conscious 4K choice, but it's much less bright than the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 at 2,300 ISO lumens, and the gaming latency is a little slower at 18 milliseconds.

How We Tested The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 Projector

We tested the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 projector for over two weeks. It was set up on the Valerion tripod in a living room measuring around 21 x 16 ft. The projector was placed around two metres from a 100-inch wall-mounted 16:9 ratio projector screen that faced a large north-facing panoramic window with non-blackout curtains. It was connected to a Wi-Fi network and controlled using Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistants. The TV was connected to a Dolby Atmos soundbar and subwoofer with eARC via a 5.5 metre HDMI 2.1 cable. The soundbar was a connection hub for a Xbox Series X and Panasonic Blu-Ray player via HDMI. Screenings took place during early evenings with minimal daylight (again with curtains drawn) and at night.

Various apps were downloaded to the projector, including Amazon Prime, Disney+, YouTube, and Netflix. We also used an iPhone to cast videos to the projector's YouTube app and also via Airplay 2. The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 Projector was loaned to us by a PR agency for the purposes of this review. Neither the agency or Valerion had any oversight or editorial control over the content of this review.

Who tested it?

Chris Duffill is a Senior Tech Writer and reviewer. Having worked in video production and graphic design, he has decades of professional experience with computers, laptops, cameras, and display technologies. He's previously owned large ceiling-mounted home cinema projectors and set up 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems plus screens for the full home cinema experience. He's a lifelong TV and movie fanatic with a Masters in Screenwriting from the UEA.

Latest Updates

This review was first published in June 2025. Any future updates and additions will be added here.

Chris Duffill is a senior tech reviewer, writing for Empire, What's The Best, Yours, Closer, Heat and other brands. He specialises in home entertainment and audiovisual tech, including TVs, projectors, speakers, amplifiers, turntables and more.